This Used To Be A Cadillac XLR

During the resurrection of the Cadillac brand, GM engineers did something they had not thought to do before; inject some serious performance into this luxury brand. Led by the CTS-V, Cadillac soon got its ultimate halo car, the Corvette-based Cadillac XLR. It took the Cadillac look, gave it a Northstar V8 engine, and a retractable hardtop for a unique American driving experience.

But when is a Cadillac supercar not enough? At some point the owner of this 2008 Cadillac XLR, uncovered by Autoblog on Cars.com decided to throw caution to the wind, and create a completely custom classic based on his XLR. This throwback is certainly a head-turner, though whether that is a good thing or not is up to you.

The custom coachwork seems to celebrate cars from the way, way past like the Excalibur, a 1963 custom Studebaker designed off of the 1928 Mercedes SSK. So it is a copy of a copy. We’re no mathematicians, but that sounds like a bad idea. While we’re sure the customizers did the best job they could, it is still painfully obvious that once upon a time, this was the boxy Cadillac XLR. And rather than commit to the old-timey feel, the interior is stock, 21st century Cadillac. 

While the supercharged Northstar engine was left untouched, still delivering a respectable 320 horsepower, the rest of this Cadillac has, for a lack of a better word, been ruined. It looks like a transformer caught halfway between the 1920s and the 21st century. But to each their own, right? And if you’re willing to pony up $74,900, this wild ride can be yours…if you want it.